Books: I was a Russian major during my first stint in college, so I
enjoy the classics of Russian literature. I also have a soft spot
for subversive Soviet fiction written during the early 20th
century. Some of my favorites from that genre are The Master and
Margarita, Envy, and A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. This
list probably makes me sound a lot smarter than I actually am -- I
likely wouldn't have read any of that stuff had it not been an
academic requirement. They were tough books to work through, but
reading them became labor of love. I'm very grateful that I had
that privilege.
As far as non-Russian authors go, Joan Didion, Abraham Verghese,
and Italo Calvino are some of my favorites. I also love reading
memoirs written by interesting people. Oh, and Harry Potter, of
course!
Movies/TV: I'm a sucker for a good comedy. I'm only a bit ashamed
to admit that I've seen Elf, The Hangover, and Step Brothers at
least ten times each. I also like a good military or science
documentary. Ken Burns and Carl Sagan really do it for me,
respectively. Shows I watch regularly: 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny
in Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, and Community. I'm also a
huge nerd, so I love Star Trek (TNG and Voyager are my favorites),
Lexx, and, above all else, Battlestar Galactica. I'm still waiting
to find Lee Adama's profile on here...
Music: I grew up listening to country, and it's a vice that's
stayed with me into adulthood. I also really enjoy Death Cab for
Cutie, Sufjan Stevens, Emmylou Harris, The Decemberists, Massive
Attack, The Knife, Passion Pit, and, recently, Lana del Rey.
Food: Pretty much everything. I spent a summer teaching in South
Korea, and the best part of that experience was the food. A word of
advice: if you're not used to spicy food and find yourself hungry
and on the streets of Seoul, please, PLEASE avoid the Dukppoki. I'm
still struggling with the emotional pain that resulted from eating
that for the first time.
Nothing is better comfort food, though, than a nice thick T-Bone
with a baked potato. I grew up on a farm and my parents'
meat-and-potatoes attitude toward food is still with me.
